Friday, October 12, 2007

I'll weigh in: Yeah, they get it from you in more than one way. That pickiness might be genetic, but you know what's not? Cooking a different meal for every member of the family and changing your international flights because your kid likes rice. That's all you.

I get such a kick out of the NYT coverage of families and parenting. What a strange little world these stories create, where the kids are everything and the hapless parents are seen saying things like, "You know that $5,000 vacation in Prague? We just had no choice but to turn it into a $10,000 vacation in Spain." I know it's not reality, but I like to laugh at it all the same.

For the record, my kids are picky. And I don't give a damn. My job ends when I put dinner on the table. Someday they'll eat those vegetables I keep putting in front of them. They may be 25, but it will happen someday.

We are big foodies and I think the fact that I ate a big variety while pregnant contributes to the fact that my 8 month old will eat any solid so far. Hope that doesn't change because there is feta, curry, cumin, and all sorts of flavors awaiting his palette.

I don't have time to cater to every little whim of my child. I do that enough in other ways, and it won't be happening when it comes to dinnertime. They either pick at the foods they enjoy and try the ones they have never tasted, or they won't get snack/dessert afterwards.

If they come back to me later telling me they are hungry, well I just dig out the portion they didn't try/eat and ask them to try again. If they do, then they get snack!